When walking around Star Wars Celebration it’s easy to find yourself overwhelmed by some of the best cosplay you’ll ever see. Star Wars fans are the best at coming up with the most elaborate, detailed, fully armed and operational outfits. In the lobby it’s not a surprise to be surrounded by and group of stormtroopers or caught in the middle of an impromptu Jedi battle. So when a tiny BB-8 sped by me, I thought nothing of it, except when I took a closer look, I was amazed to see it was a little girl in a head-to-toe BB-8 ensemble, skating around the convention lobby.
This little BB-8 was 6-year-old Sami, a kid cosplayer from Wisconsin who loves getting dressed up. Though Sami has been cosplaying since she was 3—Sami’s mom only learned how to use a sewing machine a little over a year ago—and they’ve caught the cosplay bug, now all the outfits are handmade. The family goes to as many as 8 cons a year but this was their very first Celebration.
The BB-SK8 outfit consisted of a BB-8 bike helmet, 4-wheeled skates and knee pads (safety first), and a white dress and petticoat completely decked out with working LED lights. Family friend Paul Hayden of the R2-D2 Builders Club helped them with the electronics, which really made the outfit stand out on the con floor.
All of the costume ideas are thought up by Sami and are based on her favorite characters. Not only does she dress up like BB-SK8, but other outfits have included a roller-skating Flash, little Hawkgirl, and even a roller derby Mary Pain Swatson—an outfit that impressed Stan “The Man†Lee, himself.
San Diego Comic-Con is the ultimate goal for any cosplayer but due to travel and expenses the family mostly stays close to home, which works out because Sami’s passion for cosplay is as strong as her love of giving back. The family plans on doing charity events with the Costumers with a Cause and events with their local 501st.
Sami loves going to conventions because she gets to be around other fans and meet her heroes, like her cherished encounter with Carrie Fisher at last year’s Wizard World Chicago. This Celebration Sami was featured in the Star Wars Celebration Orlando closing ceremony video and her BB-SK8 outfit was retweeted by Mark Hamill—two things which would thrill a Star Wars fan of any age.
I spoke with Sami’s mom who said, “Sometimes Sami gets grief from her peers about being a girl who likes Star Wars and superheroes. It was good for her confidence to spend time with other children, particularly girls, who enjoy what she does.†You’ll get nothing but thumbs up from us here, Sami. Keep on doing what you love!
To see more of Sami’s cosplay outfits check out the gallery below and her instagram @sharonicon6.
What do you think of this fabulous astromech cosplay? Let us know in the comments and tag @nerdist and @justjenn on twitter to show us your favorite kids cosplay!
Images: Sami Mini Cosplay
